City, Trujillo family settle suit for $760K

Trujillo

Members of the Potter-Randall Special Crimes Unit look over a bullet-riddled SUV after an early morning shooting Jan. 30, 2011, on Polk Street. The parties involved in a shooting-related lawsuit settled the case Tuesday for about $760,000.

The parties involved in the federal civil rights lawsuit that stemmed from the fatal 2011 police shooting of Claudio Trujillo on Polk Street settled the case Tuesday for about $760,000.

Trujillo’s widow and parents sued the city of Amarillo and police officers Cole Thurman, DeWayne Griffin and Gordon Eatley, alleging his rights were violated Jan. 30, 2011, when the officers fired 40 shots at his vehicle, fatally wounding Trujillo.

Attorneys for the city and its officers argued the force was necessary due to fears for the safety of the police and public when Trujillo’s vehicle moved toward the officers.

“The parties have not admitted any wrongdoing,” Mark White, an attorney for the officers, said during a Tuesday hearing in U.S. District Court.

The parties came to the agreement due to the uncertainty of the outcome and expense of taking the matter to trial, said Ed McConnell, the attorney representing Trujillo’s daughter.

“I believe the jury pool was at least split on the facts of this case,” McConnell said.

Jesse Quackenbush and the Ferguson law firm represented Trujillo’s parents, wife and child and will get $250,000 for legal fees and $160,000 for expenses, Quackenbush said during the hearing. The source of the money was not disclosed, and terms of the settlement will be sealed when U.S. District Judge Mary Lou Robinson signs her order on the matter.

Trujillo’s 7-year-old daughter, whose name is protected, will be the beneficiary of a $250,000 annuity intended to pay for her education in addition to $1,000 per month for personal spending and lump sum payments when she turns 25 and 30 years old.

“Of the $250,000 cash value of the annuity, the net recovery will be over $400,000 over time,” McConnell said.

Trujillo’s parents and wife all testified they were giving up any financial claim in the case to maximize the benefits to the daughter.